It’s understandable that my last child occasionally cries during the night. I was already conditioned for that. Even if it sometimes make me haggard, I already accepted that it was part of parenting.
But my second son. He’s already more than 5 years old but he would still put his hands on my breasts, he would embrace me even though it's not cuddling time, and would hold my face to let me see his face to see what he’s requesting, and would cry really loud if hurt emotionally.
At least the old scenario was gone. That scenario wherein he and his younger sister compete for my attention during the night and they would bother the neighborhood because of their cries and whines. The situation improved a lot when their father finally agreed to be gentle with the boy.
But then I can’t help but sigh because the child is really very emotional. Not spoiled, but just very attached and sensitive. He doesn’t want to be teased in front of others, and take anything as an insult to him most of the time.
The only way to effectively communicate to him is through talking to him really patiently. If you got angry with him and you didn’t explain why, he would ask you over and over why you scolded him.
“Apay mo siyak ung-ungtan, Mama?!” (Why did you scold me, Mama?!)
Even if it was his fault if you disciplined him in a rough manner, he would take it against you. But when you sit him down and look him in the eye and really talk to him like an adult, then he would soften up.
“Haan ko ar-aramiden manen didjay, Mama? Ta bad?” (I will not do it again, Mama? Because it’s bad?)
Then I would respond, “Yes.”
If you do it that way, then he hums away either going to his playmates or doing errands. Of course in a good mood.
He would volunteer to fetch water in his 1.5-liter coke container. If he likes to eat then he would ask me for some coins then he will go buy eggs, I will prepare it as sunny side up (not sunny side because we turn it upside down). But of course, the other two children will have to have their share. For the sake of fairness.
But if needed, because he is still a child, after all, I would get physical with him and spank him. If he knows it is his fault, he would just accept the scolding.
Lead image from Unsplash
Your second sone has the same attitude with my younger when he was still a child. But it is really good to hear that you really know when to scold him and that he accepts his fault. I love the way how you disciplined him. ☺️